Create WV Conference 2009: A personal invitation to attend . . .

Over the last few years I have been involved in Create West Virginia, an organization affiliated with Vision Shared whose mission to create and stimulate new economy growth and empower West Virginians to grow creative communities in West Virginia. Communities centered on innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, education, quality of life and arts/culture.

Each year Create WV holds an annual conference. The first annual conference was held in 2007 and attracted approximately 250 attendees. Last year’s event held at Snowshoe Resort and attracted 395 attendees. This year’s Create West Virginia 2009 Conference is set for October 18-20 in Huntington, WV at the Big Sandy Arena.

I want to personally invite you to attend the Create West Virginia Conference 2009. Check out the keynote speakers and sessions.

A special attraction this year will be a live Mountain Stage performance on Sunday evening at the Keith Albee Theater featuring West Virginia native, Kathy Mattea, and The Songcatchers, The Ahs, Shannon Whitworth and Or, The Whale.

Click here for more information about the conference including how to register.

Feel free to forward a link of this invitation to others who you think might be interested in attending the conference.

WVU College of Law: Entrepreneurship Law Clinic

Today the West Virginia State Bar announced a new project at the West Virginia University College of Law to provide legal assistance to technology start-ups, existing small business and nonprofits.

The Entrepreneurship Law Clinic will be directed by Professor Michael V. Risch and staffed by current law students. The Clinic will provide supervised legal counsel to small businesses and start-ups in a clinical setting by offering no cost or low cost assistance.

The Clinic will provide services to clients who are unable to find or afford legal representation. Initial services will include: preformation counseling; choosing and forming a business entity; financing and investing; drafting Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, LLC Articles and Operating Agreements, etc.; filing for tax-exempt recognition; drafting and negotiating contracts; protecting and licensing intellectual property and forming employment policies.

Congratulations to Professor Risch for starting the new clinic program which will be valuable to the growing creative community looking to stay and invest in West Virginia. The program not only assists those with new ideas or businesses but also provide real life training to law students who will gain invaluable skills to help out lawyers like myself upon graduation.